Two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) visited Sri Lanka to evaluate respect for labour rights prior to the European Union's decision on granting Sri Lanka the so-called GSP+ preferential trade access. During the visit the government committed to labour rights improvements, such as progress on ongoing cases, allowing trade union access to export processing zones, a revision of the labour law and of the union threshold (currently at 40%), and ensuring that the benefits of the preferential trade status would be shared with the workers.

International support and solidarity can make a real difference in local worker struggles shows this week’s success in Sri Lanka. In a workers’ referendum in two factories with a long history of conflict between employees and management, workers voted to have the trade union recognized as legitimate bargaining partner. In the face of years of intense union busting, this testifies to the empowering nature of international solidarity, called in by the trade union.

On 4 September 2014, workers at the NEXT factory in Colombo, Sri Lanka were taken ill with food poisoning. Over 200 workers were admitted to a nearby hospital, where one female worker died on 7 September.

Bata admits to a cut-and-run after a conflict in one of the factories in Sri Lanka which made their shoes. One year ago, close to 200 workers were fired after they complained about not getting their salary increases. Join our action, tell Bata on facebook and rate Bata on their own rating page: http://on.fb.me/1sc8n9w

A year ago today, close to 200 workers were dismissed at the Sri Lankan shoe factory Palla & Co following union activities and protests over outstanding wage increments. At that time, the factory had mainly been producing for Bata. Instead of engaging in the resolution of the labor rights conflict, the formerly Czech enterprise now head-quartered in Switzerland is shirking its responsibility.

Shoe company Bata refuses to take any responsibility for the resolution of a labour rights conflict arising at the factory Palla & Co., a Sri Lankan shoe factory. Workers say its owner repeatedly refused to pay workers an agreed upon pay rise. Bata, who was sourcing from the factory at the time of the labour conflict, cut its commercial relationship with Palla & Co. in late 2013.

The Clean Clothes Campaign and the Asia Floor Wage Alliance believe that being paid less than a living wage is a violation of an individual’s human rights. This report looks at the low wages being paid across six of the major garment producing countries in Asia – Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. It also looks at the responsibilities of both state and global apparel brands and their suppliers in addressing poverty wages and the steps that must be taken immediately if the garment industry is to provide a decent life for those working within it. The report was published in 2014.

We are pleased to announce that the Sri Lankan Free Trade Zone and General Services Employees Union (FTZ&GSEU) reached a settlement with the underwear factory Bratex and the US based company Fruit of the Loom.

The Clean Clothes Campaign is relieved that the union has reached a settlement with Bratex and Fruit of the Loom in July 2014, after more than three years. The settlement covers all outstanding issues of reinstatement, compensation, withdrawal of criminal charges and a guarantee that freedom of association will be respected in the Sri Lankan underwear factory.